RELEASE DAY BLITZ & REVIEW: July Lightning by Shannon A. Thompson

July Lightning 

Shannon A. Thompson

(Bad Bloods #4)

Published by: Clean Teen Publishing

Publication date: May 1st 2017

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

From best-selling author Shannon A. Thompson comes an exciting new duology in the Bad Bloods universe.

Sixteen-year-old Caleb has been called many things: a patient, a musician, even a prostitute…now he has a new name—son. After his identity is uncovered, Caleb bands together with the family he once rejected in order to save the city of Vendona. But it won’t be easy. Enemies wait around every corner—and so do harsh realities. With Violet and Kuthun by his side though, nothing seems impossible. As Vendona sits on the verge of an economic collapse and a massive hurricane threatens the city, Violet and Caleb must show its citizens how to overcome decades of hostility and division to save themselves.

Standing or not, a sea will rage, a wall may fall, and all will depend on immortal pain and sacrifice.

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EXCERPT:

Everyone in the Pits called the fifteen-year-old Skeleton, for obvious reasons. Supposedly, the bad blood had been born a normal, healthy baby boy, but, over time, his skin unraveled and revealed pieces of bone. Somehow, defying all science, the boy continued to live. The last time I’d seen him, his right arm and chin showed bone, but now, half his face and all his fingers had contorted to the haunting shape. Even Adam cringed.

“You here to fight?” Skeleton asked, eyeing both Adam and me.

I attempted to answer, but Adam shouted over me. “You work here?”

The betrayal Adam felt was one I would never comprehend, even if I wanted to. Adam was a bad blood. To see a fellow bad blood protect the Pits that killed his kind went beyond my human pain. I volunteered to fight. Bad bloods often didn’t. Moments like this reminded me why Kuthun slapped me when I told him I wished I was a bad blood. Just because I sympathized with them and loved them, lived with them and listened to them, did not mean I would ever be one. I could never feel the same emotions Adam did, and Adam couldn’t comprehend mine.

“The humans aren’t the only ones who see value in bad blood.” Skeleton egged Adam on, and Adam fell for it.

“You mean, your blood.”

The boy’s bony fingers rattled against the door. “Of course,” he said, then smiled. The addition of teeth only made the bony boy look worse.

“You’re one of us,” Adam snapped. “How could you—”

I stepped in front of my cousin. Thankfully, my actions stopped him. “We’re here to talk to Connelly,” I said.

The lanky, crass kid looked me over and stepped aside, but as we passed, he gave in to temptation. “If you need a tag for the bad blood, let me know.”

Adam knocked the boy out cold before I could stop him. That was how fast his powers worked. And, for once, I didn’t feel the need to reprimand him.

“You know you have to fight if you hurt the workers,” I said.

“No one will know,” Adam said as he strode past me. “You’re good at keeping secrets, right?”

Top Ten Bad Bloods You’ll Meet In The New Duology

If you’ve read the first duology in the Bad Bloods universe, then you already know how crazy, wild, and wonderful a bad blood can be. (Book 1 is free across all platforms right now.) But if you don’t know what a bad blood is, a bad blood is a person with hindering abilities. Think X-Men, but the powers come with serious ramifications. Want an example? In the latest duology, Violet is a fourteen-year-old girl who can turn into a shadow…but she often loses herself to darkness and time, so she struggles to form back into a person. Because of her shadowy nature, she also has a hard time identifying as individual rather than simply following anyone she latches onto…like a shadow.

Here are the top ten bad bloods you’ll meet for the first time in the new Bad Bloods duology, July Thunder and July Lightning. Check out the Pinterest board for more inspiration!

Levi (13): He’s described as a seedy sailor, with curly blond hair and skin that…glows. He might be closer to an eel. And his powers include cleaning water.

Kuthun (18): A love interest in the book, Kuthun sees the strings of fate…even the strings of those who have died long ago.

Kat (15): Between her night vision, her sharpened claws, and her black-white-red hair, Kat might as well be a calico cat. Even cats mistook her and sheltered her from a young age.

Skeleton (15): Skeleton works in the Pits, an underground fighting ring, but his name should be taken literally. He’s slowly defying all science by turning into a skeleton…and remaining alive.

Nuo (17): Nuo grew up with our protagonist Caleb, but her powers can make you repeat, repeat, repeat until whatever action you’re doing kills you.  

Hanna (16): She might be bald, but she can grow anyone else’s hair. And dye it, too.

Ellen (9): She glows like a lighthouse, but after burning her own eyes, she cannot see the night she turns into day.

Plato (7): Plato might have a glass heart…because he can turn sand into glass right before your eyes.

Yasir (15): Do you like jewels? This is your guy. He can change anything into a gem…including his own eye, which is now a sapphire.

Britney (8?): Her age is a mystery for a reason. Her powers, too. Revealing either could kill us all.

Author Bio:

Shannon A. Thompson is a young adult author, avid reader, and a habitual chatterbox.

As a novelist, poet, and blogger, Thompson spends her free time writing and sharing ideas with her black cat, Bogart, named after her favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart. Her other two cats bring her coffee. Between writing and befriending cats, Thompson graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing, and her work has appeared in numerous poetry collections and anthologies. Represented by Clean Teen Publishing, Thompson is the best-selling author of The Timely Death Trilogy and the Bad Bloods duology. When she is not writing, she is climbing rooftops, baking cookies, or watching murder shows in the middle of the night, often done with her cats by her side.

Visit her blog for writers and readers at www.ShannonAThompson.com.

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OMG, What can I say about this book.....Just , just, just.......absolutely AWESOME!! Thompson spared us no secrets in this book. In fact many secret from July Thunder were revealed. These characters, new and old, were still phenomenal. I loved learning about Caleb and Violet. Their love for one another and the others were incredible. The story-line was magical. I could picture everything that happened with clarity and the words just seemed to flow off the pages as I turned them. There were some feelers in this story too and I do advise some tissues while reading. I highly recommend this read to all to enjoy.

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Character Interview with Caleb & Violet from Bad Bloods

Today we’re talking to Caleb and Violet from the Bad Bloods universe by best-selling young adult author Shannon A. Thompson. For those who don’t know, Bad Bloods is a generational duology series, which basically means every two books will be told by different characters. Each set also focuses on a new political movement. July Thunder (4/10) and July Lightning (5/1) is set in 2090, so it will deal with the aftermath of the first duology (November Rain and November Snow). It will focus on the wall separating the Highlands and the outskirts. If you haven’t started this series yet, don’t worry! November Rain (book 1) is free across all platforms.

For more information, visit www.ShannonAThompson.com.

But now, our interview with Caleb and Violet.

Interviewer (I): Let’s start with something fun. What’s your favorite food?

Violet (V): Pie. Cupcakes. Anything with chocolate. I have a huge sweet tooth.

Caleb (C): Seafood. But that’s because I like fishing.

V: And the island.

C: Ha. Yes, and my island.

I: An island off the coast of Vendona plays a huge role in this new duology. Not only is it undiscovered territory for Bad Bloods readers, but it’s unknown to most Vendona citizens as well. Am I correct?

C: Yes. My island is off the gulf of Eastern Vendona, a largely frowned upon place even in the outskirts. Vendona is a…complicated place. Not only is it isolated from the rest of the world—unless you’re rich, of course—it also has barricades within itself. The outskirts is separated by cardinal directions, though there’s no physical barrier.

V: But there are also physical barriers in Vendona. There’s a fence in Shadow Alley—my infamous spot—that cuts off most of Western Vendona after the Western Flock was massacred thirteen years ago. And the whole city is separated into two main parts—the Highlands and the outskirts. A steel wall is placed in between them.

I: The ten-story wall that separates the Highlands and the outskirts is center to your tale. Why?

V: Well, most people want it taken down. And with Marion Lachance’s help, even Highlanders are beginning to protest the barrier. It’s outdated.

C: Or never should’ve happened in the first place.

V: That, too.

I: So how do you two get involved with the movement to pull the wall down?

C: I wouldn’t put it that way…but it was more or less an accident.

V: Almost everything in Vendona is.

C: (nods) It’s easy to get caught up in everything, even when it’s completely out of your control. The best thing you can do is try to survive.

V: And do the right thing.

C: (frowning) The right thing isn’t always what I agree on, because the right thing often takes sacrifice. Vendona will take everything from you if it can. I won’t let that happen.

I: Sounds like you two have different ideas about what is right and wrong.

V: I think we just have different approaches.

C: I think I’d argue anything she says.

V: (glare)

C: (smirk) But she’s probably right.

I: So, tell us about one another. What was your initial reaction of the other?

C: (soft laughter) Violet was…terrifying as she was beautiful.

V: Caleb was an ass.

I: Ha. Okay. Well, in celebration of July Lightning, how about a quick lightning round?

Favorite clothing item:

V: My new black leather boots.

C: Button-up shirts.

Favorite weather:

V: Nighttime?

C: That’s not weather.

V: Then calm nighttime. Kind of windy. Enough to fly on.

C: (sigh) I like storms. Most of the time.

Favorite color:

V: Black

C: Violet.

V: (glare) You’re just saying that because it’s my name.

C: No, seriously. I love the color violet.

V: Whatever. (but smiling)

Favorite art:

V: I’m a painter.

C: I’m a musician.

Biggest fear:

V: Losing myself.

C: Losing my loved ones.

I: If there is anything you want readers to take away from this story, what is it?

V: To step out of your comfort zone. I spent most of my life in shadows. Learning to live in the spotlight is another challenge entirely. Well worth the adventure.

C: To be honest, open. To embrace connection with others when you’re used to closing yourself off.

I: Great answers. Thank you for talking with us tonight!

To learn more about Violet and Caleb and the wall separating their city, check out the latest duology in the Bad Bloods universe.

RELEASE DAY BLITZ & REVIEW: DEATHBRINGER by Tamara Grantham

Deathbringer 

Tamara Grantham

(Fairy World M.D., Olive Kennedy)

Published by: Crimson Tree Publishing

Publication date: April 25th 2017

Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Some heroes are fated to save the world. Others are meant to destroy it…

Olive Kennedy is all about positive thinking. She’s been stuck on Earth for the past four months, waiting for the spring equinox to arrive so she can return to Fairy World — but she’s staying positive. She’s hopeful she’ll once again see her handsome Viking fiancé who’s waiting for her. She’s optimistic that her mission to reclaim the sword of Dracon — a sword of King Arthur fame and the only weapon capable of killing Theht — won’t result in death and destruction. And then there’s the small matter of an asteroid that’s been ripped out of its orbit and is hurtling toward Earth…no biggie.

One last thing — she’s fated to destroy the world. To stop that prophecy from being fulfilled, she may have to sacrifice the one person she loves the most.

Good thing she’s staying positive.

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EXCERPT:

I stood and crossed to my bedroom, then grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. After grabbing my temporary mirror case out of a drawer, I placed it on top of my dresser.

I wasn’t sure if I should cringe or laugh as I scanned my new mirror. I’d found it at the dollar store after a frustrating day of trying to create a new mirror box with no success. I’d bought it because it was absurd and to remind myself that it was temporary.

The plastic box was pink with the name BARBIE scrolled on the top. Inside was a foam liner that had once held five nail polish bottles. I’d cut the foam to make larger slots. Now, it held my five figurines that represented the races of Faythander: Dragon, elf, Wult, pixie, and goblin.

After unlocking the latch, I opened the lid. “You’re fabulous! Inside and out!” sang to me in a bubble-gum voice as I propped the lid open.

As I said, temporary solution. Extremely temporary. It had a mirror under the lid and was the perfect size for my figurines, so it worked. For now.

Scanning my figurines, I found the Wult and removed it from the foam, then propped it upright against the mirror. I needed to get to the Wultlands, and this would be the easiest way to do so.

I ignored the glittery scrolling along the edges of the mirror and focused on the glass. Taking a deep breath, I paused before touching my fingers to the mirror.

Months ago, the portals had started acting erratically. I’d thought the problem had been solved after we’d restored the fairies’ stone, but when I’d returned to Earth four months ago, the portal had almost torn me apart. I’d gotten several stitches in my abdomen because the crossing had been so violent. Since then, I hadn’t once been able to open a portal, but tonight, I had no choice. I needed to return to Faythander before the equinox, and I had one thing in my favor—I hadn’t tried opening a portal with my new Barbie box yet.

Here’s to hoping my luck improved, I thought. Then again, this was my luck we were talking about. Yeah, probably not.

Carefully, I placed my fingertips to the screen, inhaled a deep breath, and then conjured the word to open the portal.

Magic flowed from my heart, through my arms and hands, and into the mirror. Gold and amber swirls licked like fire over my skin as the magic interacted with the mirror, mingling with the blue glow coming from the plastic case.

The power grew inside me as the portal opened. Wind swirled around me until the room disappeared and I floated in a void. Voices came from somewhere. Soft whispers. Among them was a familiar one. The cold, detached voice of Theht.

I am here. I am waiting.

I’d gotten better at tuning her out, but being in a place like this, between worlds, made it almost impossible to keep her away.

Soon, we shall destroy the world together. Deathbringer.

The wind grew stronger and faster, wrapping around me, squeezing the air from my lungs. It compressed me until I couldn’t breathe. Pain coursed through my nerve endings as the pressure weighed me down. I felt as if I’d been buried under millions of tons of sand.

I cried out, but couldn’t hear my voice over the wind. Tears leaked from my eyes. I felt their warmth on my cheeks. In a desperate attempt to survive, I focused on the magic within me, unleashing every ounce, pouring it into the portal to keep it steady.

I thought for sure I was dead when I hit the ground. I landed awkwardly, my shoulder and hips taking the brunt of the impact. My mirror, on the other hand, made a graceful landing in a pile of leaves beside me.

I lay on the ground, panting for air, staring at the faded blue sky through the patchwork of branches with budding green shoots.

“Never again,” I muttered between gasps. Next time, I would find a Viking ship and cross through an underground ocean filled with man-eating sea-snakes before using a portal. “Never. Again.”

On the bright side, at least I’d finally made it back to Faythander. The $.99 investment into the Barbie mirror wasn’t such a bad buy after all.

EXCLUSIVE! Never Before Seen Interview with His Majesty of Wults, King of the Ancient Vikings, King Kull the Skullsplitter

Interviewer: Today I have the privilege of interviewing arguably the most sought after personality in Faythander, Kull, King of Wults. We’ll find out if all the gossip is true. Did he lose the sword of his ancestors? Is he engaged? When can we expect a wedding? Are the rumors about that jagamoor true? Kull, we’re so glad you could make it.

Kull: Of course.

Interviewer: Tell us, how is the transition of going from playboy prince to king of an entire nation?

Kull: It’s going very well. Why? Have you heard otherwise?

Interviewer: Yes, in fact I have.

Kull: It’s all bogus. The transition couldn’t be going any better. I was just visiting the outlying villages recently and they were thriving—even with the threat of the elves trying to take over Faythander, the Wult nation is strong. Dare I say, stronger than ever before. Now, let’s change the subject, shall we?

Interviewer: Does discussing the state of your nation make you nervous?

Kull: As I said. Change the subject.

Interviewer: Not a problem. Let’s talk about the sword of your ancestors. I read recently that you made a bad deal with the witch of Dragon Spine Mountain and traded it to her to pay off your debts, and later you allowed the sword to be destroyed. Is this true?

Kull: Once again, completely bogus. Have I lost the sword? Yes. To pay off my debts? Untrue. False. Where do these rumors get started?

Interviewer: But you do admit to losing the sword? The symbol of your kingdom? Heirloom? Entrusted to you by your ancestors to always keep it safe?

Kull: Some things are more important than swords.

Interviewer: Ah yes, you’re right. I assume you’re speaking about your fiancée? We’ve not heard much about this elusive bride-to-be, but our sources have confirmed that she is indeed half-elven, and what’s worse, she’s not even in a position to unite our nations. Can you elaborate on why you chose to ally our kingdom with such an uncommon choice?

Kull: Because I love her.

Interviewer: Well, that’s obvious, isn’t it? But give us some indication as to why you picked a half-breed. There are some who claim you chose to put your own emotions above the needs of our kingdom. Is it true?

Kull: I refuse to answer such a question. Where is my drink?

Interviewer: Drink?

Kull: I’ve been waiting, most patiently, for an Earth Kingdom beverage that was promised to me if I attended this ridiculous interview.

Interviewer: Yes, I’m sure someone will get that to you just as soon as you answer a few more questions. Can you tell us when to expect the wedding?

Kull: No.

Interviewer: Aha! Is it a secret then? Is there an elopement planned?

Kull: I’m very thirsty.

Interviewer: I’m sure you are, seeing as how you’ve done so much speaking. Tell us, is your fiancée indeed possessed by the spirit of Theht?

Kull: What? Where did you hear that?

Interviewer: It’s common knowledge, really.

Kull: No, it’s not common knowledge at all. In fact, she only just told me. Who are you?

Interviewer: There’s no need for shouting.

Kull: I knew it was you!

Interviewer: Fine, the ruse is up. Here, have a Dr. Pepper.

Author Bio:

Tamara Grantham is the award-winning author of more than half a dozen books and novellas, including the Olive Kennedy: Fairy World MD series and the Shine novellas. Dreamthief, the first book of her Fairy World MD series, won first place for fantasy in INDIEFAB’S Book of the Year Awards, a RONE award for best New Adult Romance of 2016, and is a #1 bestseller on Amazon in both the Mythology and Fairy Tales categories with over 100 reviews.

Tamara holds a Bachelor’s degree in English. She has been a featured speaker at the Rose State Writing Conference and has been a panelist at Comic Con Wizard World speaking on the topic of female leads. For her first published project, she collaborated with New York-Times bestselling author, William Bernhardt, in writing the Shine series.

Born and raised in Texas, Tamara now lives with her husband and five children in Wichita, Kansas. She rarely has any free time, but when the stars align and she gets a moment to relax, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, taking nature walks, which fuel her inspiration for creating fantastical worlds, and watching every Star Wars or Star Trek movie ever made. You can find her online at www.TamaraGranthamBooks.com.

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Wow, What an amazing turn of events this story has brought forth. Grantham has once again shocked me with her style of story-telling and has captured and piqued my attention with this phenomenal read. There were many shocking scenes and some spectacular moments that made this one heck of a wild adventure. The characters were awesome and magical and the story-line just blew me away and had me at the very first page. Even though the author throws us a cliffhanger at the end of this story, it is one that I can live with because I am expecting a different outcome and because I know for sure this adventure into Faythander is not over. This author did a smashing job at twisting the ending just enough to keep me craving for more and I am extremely anxious to see where she will take us next on this remarkable voyage. I highly recommend this read to all. 

If you have yet to read this series, then you are missing out on one wild ride. Book one, DREAMTHIEF is free on all platforms, so get your copy and start today.

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